The Queensland Murders. BURGESS DISCHARGED FROM CUSTODY. Brisbane, Wednesday. &amp;nbsp; The charge against Richard Burgess of complicity in the Gatton murders has been withdrawn, and the man discharged from custody. He was, however, im- mediately re-arrested on a charge of steal- ing a saddle. A man from the ranges has obtained food from settlers and returned. The police are searching for him.

PECULIAR TRAIN ACCIDENT. OVERWHELMED BY SEAS. London, January 14. A peculiar accident to a tram is reported from Wales. During a violent storm on the coast a goods train was overwhelmed - by the heavy seas which swept over the lino near Llanfairiechan, and the driver and- stoker were both washed away and drowned.

THE AMERICAN SPANISH WAR. COMMISSLA.RIAT SCANDALS. ^ THE FUTURE OF THE PHILIPPINES. T.rt«*Trtri Tnnnoi-tr 14 A great scandal has been created in the United States in reference to the failure of the American commissiariat during tho Cuban campaign. General Miles, the officer who held the nosition of Com mander ;- in - Chief of the invading ^'* army, stated that rotten meat was supplied to the troops, and that this was responsible for much of the sickness which was prevalent amongst the soldiers in Cuba during and after the war. Colonel Eagan, the chief of the .Commissiariat De partment, declared in answerto this state ment that General Miles was a 'malicious liar,' and a commission which was ap- ? pointed to inquire into the charges re ported that the meat was perfectly good when supplied to the troops. In conse quence of this report it is rumored that ^ President M'Kinley'will sHortly-ask Gen eral Miles to retire from the army. It has been announced that if President M'Kinley is sat...

FIRE ON A SULPHUR STEAMER. THE VESSEL ABANDONED AND SCUTTLED. London, January 13. Am-e attended witn disastrous results has occurred on board the large Italian steamer- Vittoria,' laden 'with sulphur. After passing the Balearic Isles, in the Mediterranean, near the coast of Valencia, smoke -was found to be issuing from the main hold, and on investigation it was discovered that the cargo of sulphur was on fire. The overpowering fumes of the burning sulphur rendered it impossible to approach the hatches, and all on board were threatened with suffocation. Under these circumstances it was decided to abandon the ship, and the whole of the passengers and crew took to the boats. A landing was safely effected at Adecanti. The Vittoria was scuttled.

: GABLES AND WIRES, ? ♦ ? British and Foreign. AN AFFAIR OF 'HONOR.' ' MILITARISM IN GERMANY. . - London, January 18. Another of -those peculiar ' affaires de honor which periodically occur in Ger-. many is reported from Metz, one of the greatest of the military towns. A party of officers jostled a civilian named Till man, and the latter became incensed, and raised Kb stick to strike them. He after wards boasted that he had : thrashed the officers, and the Court of Honor de cided that the senior officer, Captain Schlickmann, should challenge Tillman to a duel. The latter accepted, pistolB were chosen, arid the duel took place, the officer shooting the civilian through the heart. — , . .

BREEDING 0HI0KENB. ^t The Armour Packing Company dresses from 8,000^0 6,000 chickens a day. They say that pure-bred are far superior to com mon chickens m plumpneBS, fullneBS of breast,' rairiooth akin,' -and yellow '-legs. And they par three- cents a pound more for the pure-bred than for common'^' stock. They advise :fahner8TV'h'o raise1 chickens for the ;jnftrket to keep- only .pure-bred males of the beet varieties, such aa. Ply- mouth Rooksr Wyandottes, or Indian game/ r- The farmer - who 1 ' keegs' the pure bred gains in'twb 'ways.' They -a¥e:la|ger and weigh^'ore.'and he gets several cent! a pound more fbr'th'em'.'.

THE! ? Puhlithei every Monday, Wednetday, and Friday Morning. FAIR AND IMPARTIAL. MONDA T, JAMJAR Tie, 1899. . AUSTRIAN IMMIGRANTS. The -action of the New Zealand and New South' Wale'3 Governments in pre venting the landing of a number of Aus trians on tbe ground that they came under the Ttale of undesirable-immierants, raises the whole question of colonial authority in this matter, . and threatens to involve the Imperial. Government in grave embarrassment. Quite recently, it will be . remembered, an, attempt has been made to bring all the colonies into line in the matter of 'restricting the immigration of those wbwuta^onsidered undesirable persons, the idea.bc&amp;i&amp;to create a bar to those races— including British India subjects — whose mode of living does not conform to, and the wages for which they are willing, to work does not coincide with British-colonial ideas. Toiihis^end the education test has. been set as the standard upon which foreign races — excluding Chine...

. STUDY 'WHAT THE BUlfER VitANTS. ; Dairy farmers are beginning to. find out '.- that) to get the -highest price lor butter they must supply 'just what the; consumer : liked best. HaVto- breeders ol driving ibrse's ever viewed their business in a similar light ? 3net stop a moment and ' consider what it/ ia that the city buyer wants in the way o{ a driving animal. He . fireli.wants a goodlOoker — Bometiing with ? head up and fat and sleek. He then wants it well broken, for he has no time to give from business to,, handle an animal and get it used to harness an^ the_ro4d. He wants it sensibly ^an^free from tice— - something that' ne.. will feel safe foi!ii»-^_ wife, and children ( to drivec pjit ^with occasidpally when : he can't accompany them; and for such; an animal he's ready even now to pay a long price. Snowing, these facts', are ndf'a great' inany farmers loBing .money by ... selling, wellbred stoak ' in' poor r pondition 'and, . with . . *garcefer , any^analingor training? ' ...

Tasmanion Population Statistics. — In- teresting particulars regarding the popula tion of Tasmania have been issued by Mr R. M. Johnston, the Registrar-General. On the 31st December the population was 177,341, as compared with 171,719 in 1897, being an increase of 5,622. During the year there were 4;581 births, 2,858 deaths, and 1,080 marriages. Arrivals in the colony for the 12 months totalled 24,074, and departures 20,676, or a net gain to the colony of 3,399. |' I have used Chamberlain's Cough Remedy in my family for years, and al ways with good results,' saye- Mr W. B. Cooper, El Rio, Cal. ' For small chil dren we find it especioPy effective.' For sale by all dealers. Hatton and Laws, General Agents. .

' Commercial. ' Advocate ' Office, Saturday Evening. i ? '? The quotation for potatoes is still £i to -. £4 5b, one buyer offering as high as- £4 ? 7s 6d for next week's deliveries, and al . ready there are about 800 Backs in the wharf Btoros at West Devonport. The ss Tekapo is advertised to Bail on Friday next, 20th, and probably the Paterson liner Easby will also be on the berth. As to what quantity will go forward from coast ports next week it is almost like trying to guess the number of peas in a bottle to estimate, but it seems certain from all nppesrancea that nothing less than 8,000 sacks will be . shipped, and this quantity may be largely exceeded. Many of the producers arc anxious to dig, the prices are tempting, and a knock-out quantity would not come - as a great surprise. Experience has often ? proved that what was considered the out Bide quantity that could possibly come in -'has been far exceeded, in some cases almost doubled, and when it is taken into ? consideration ...

THE SYDNEY PRODUCE MARKET. - ' OUR SPECIAL REPORT. ' ARRIVAL OF THE KINI. POTATOES SOLD TO £6 10s. Sydney, Friday. ? A further slump in potatoes took place at the Redfern railway station to-day, when 900 bags were offered, the highest price obtainable being £5, whilst inferior sam'nles sold down to 13d ner cwt. or equal to £1 5s per ton. Con trary to expectations* the Kini's cargo opened at £6 10s, owing to it being in a few agonts' hands. A quantity of the cargo was in good order, but off colors did not sell well, the percentage of small being too great. There is no change to report in oats, maize and wheat. There is a better enquiry for chaff, arrivals by rail being light. Lucerne 'hay, £2 15s. 'Straw, £2 10s. Onions, £4 10.